Eat to sail, sail to eat

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 

― Charles M. Schulz

Food is not just what we need to consume to keep moving, but a filter for experiences; just a taste or a whiff can transport us back to a favorite place we've visited in the past, or better understand a place where we find ourselves.

Even now, French pastries remind us of... Barra de Navidad's boatside panga delivery, of course.
(Photo: sv Totem)

For the first time in months, we saw fresh cilantro in the market. Jamie and I just looked at each other and said "salsa"!  So last night, dinner centered around the delicious dish that most people limit to condiment status. As our family we sat around the main salon table, spooning up the rare treat, we talked about our memories of Mexico. After many roadside taco stands and piles of tomatoes, our simple salsa cruda recipe was refined- it never fails to evoke happy reflections of our time there.

When do parts of your cruising experience become inextricably linked with what you eat or drink? Is there something you always prepare before making a passage? What about a recipe you've picked up that has become a signature offering from your boat?

Here are a few bloggers who have found that link between sustenance and place.